Rebecca Snyder welcomes Max Mishkin with Ballard Spahr for an in-depth discussion on the evolving battle against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) within the Maryland General Assembly. Max, an attorney with a keen insight into media defense, unravels the complex nature of SLAPP suits, explaining their strategic use to silence critics through the burdensome costs and stresses of litigation rather than seeking justice through legal victories.The conversation sheds light on the nuances distinguishing SLAPP suits from ordinary libel and defamation cases, highlighting their broader implications on free speech and public participation. Max elucidates the foundational aspects of libel law, including the pivotal role of actual malice in defamation cases and how SLAPP suits weaponize legal processes to discourage dissent.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of law, journalism, and the ongoing struggle to safeguard democratic principles through the right to free speech.HB 330, sponsored by Delegate Rosenberg, will be heard in Maryland's House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, February 7, 2024. The cross-filed bill (SB 568, sponsored by Senator Hettleman) will be heard in Maryland's Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on February 20, 2024.

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